trayrenee

Hello. It's different for every person but here are some general suggestions: 1. Call your insurance and get them to send you the paperwork on what is required. My insurance had a photocopy of the policy that they shot me out in the mail. 2. Find out if there is a bariatric surgeon or hospital w/a bariatric program that you are interested in. Since you are so close to DC (I use to live in Fburg!) you might want to check out some of the bigger hospitals out there. I now live in St. Louis and my hospital has a whole weight loss surgery center and as soon as I went to one of their seminars they hooked me up with an insurance specialist and they walked me through everything. Having a center or at least a surgeon w/good secretaries and staff members b/c they can help dealing with all the paperwork. You might also want to find out if your insurance requires you to go through a Bariatric Center of Surgical Excellence. 3. Start doing what you need to do -- psych eval, dietician eval etc. Before you go and spend a bunch of money doing that though -- find a place to have the surgery b/c you need to do the dance between what your insurance wants and what your surgeon wants. And that's it. Mine was super easy -- the program I am going through really has it together.

Hello -- I'm am looking for someone who is having surgery on or around Nov. 19th (my surgery date). I already have someone to help guide my way (my best friend had it about 6 months ago) -- but I thought it would be fun and helpful to talk to someone who is on the exact same schedule is me and see how we progress together!

I have BC/BS of Minn and it was so easy to get approved was anti-climatic. From the time my doc submitted my paperwork until the time I got a call that I had been approved it was .... FIVE DAYS!!! If you haven't done so already, call your insurance and ask them to send you what is required for bariatric surgery approval. I believe it was fairly standard (they sent me a photo copy of some policy). I had to: 1. Have my surgery at a Center of Excellence (go to their web site and you can find a list of them) 2. Psych Eval 3. Letter from GP stating you are fit for surgery w/thyroid tests in the last 6 months 4. 6 months of documented supervised weight loss and a consult w/a dietician Like I said, nothing crazy. The surgeon I am going through is part of a whole program and they handle all the insurance stuff. Another nice thing is I was approved for surgery any time within a years time -- from what I understand that is not the usual -- it's usually 60 days from approval date!

Hello. I live in St. Louis and I am having my consultation with my surgeon tomorrow (I was just approved for surgery this week). My surgeon is part of the New Start Program at St. Alexius hospital -- has anyone had any experience with this program? Or had their surgery there?

Those are all very good questions -- that is exactly what I'm looking for -- but was is an MRSA?

Thanks for the good questions. I do know from my research that my surgeon is the head of the program and he has done over 1000 bariatric surgeries since 2003, a majority of them lap band.

Hello everyone. This is one of my first real post as a potential fellow lapbander! I was just approved by my insurance this week. My question to those of you who are already on the other side of being banded ....what are some questions you wished you had asked at your first surgery consult? I will meet my surgeon -- Dr. Norbert Richardson at the New Start Program in St. Louis -- for the first time this Tuesday for a consult. I know a little of what to expect since my friend (in another part of the country) was banded in May. But I'm still researching and learning and I'm almost overwhelmed as to what to ask. From what I understand, this might be the only time I actually see my surgeon until after I'm banded. Can anyone help me? I'd love to get a rolling list going.

Approved this week for lapband by BCBS/MN -- having a consult w/Dr. Norbert Richardson at the New Start program at St. Alexius in St. Louis -- anyone have any experience with him?

Ooh! That is good to know. Is that hospital just run down or down right dirty? Also in regards to Dr. Wagner -- I keep reading how quiet and reserved he is. Did you find him competent? Open to questions? I'm a little curious as to why he doesn't participate in the info seminars at St. Alexius -- I read one negative thing about him on a board and I can't get it out of my mind. Who knows, it might have been a disgruntled patient. I must admit -- I'm not loving having to pay $375 just to walk in the door -- what if I don't like him?

Thanks for the info. My insurance dictates that I have to have it at St. Alelxius. I work just a few blocks down the street from the hospital and I live in the city -- so I'm ok with the area. I go out to eat around there and shopping all the time.

Hello everyone! This is my first night on the board -- I have just stated my journey of hopefully getting banded. I have an appointment for a consult w/Dr. Van Wanger out of St. Louis in June. Does anyone have anything they could tell me about using him and their experience (good or bad)? Also I understand his practice requires something called a one-time "program fee" -- is this a common thing? My friend was recently banded in NYC and has never heard of this.

Hello everyone -- this is my first time posting on this site. I am in the very early stages of hopefully getting banded. I have a consultation with Dr. Van Wagner in St. Louis and I was wondering if anyone on the board has been is patient. I'm curious to hear both the good and the bad.